CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Gov. John Lynch said two courts already have rejected New Hampshire's parental notification law on abortions, and the U.S. Supreme Court should do the same.

Lynch filed a brief with the court on Wednesday asking it to find the law unconstitutional. He said it is a risk to the health of New Hampshire women.

"As governor, and as a father, I believe parents should be involved in these important decisions," he said. "But we must also recognize that there are cases where that is not possible _ and we should not risk the health and safety of young women in those cases," Lynch said.

The law requires a doctor or clinic to notify a minor's parents 48 hours before performing an abortion. A girl can ask permission from a judge if she wants to bypass her parents.

Lynch's brief puts him at odds with the official state response. The case is in the Supreme Court because Attorney General Kelly Ayotte appealed lower court findings against the law. She argues that because the law allows a court to intervene and other state laws allow doctors to act in an emergency, a woman's health can be protected.

Planned Parenthood and other opponents argue the law is unconstitutional because it lacks an exception when a woman's health is at risk. The law does allow a young woman to go before a judge for permission to have an abortion, and supporters say that provides the needed protection. It also permits doctors to do an abortion without providing the required notice if a woman would die otherwise.

The case is expected to go before the high court at the end of November.

Planned Parenthood President Nancy Mosher said her group will be watching the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers very closely to gauge how her presence on the court might affect the case.